Catherine (Cathy) Ferabolli, nee Aherne, was born into a large Catholic family in Boherbue, Ireland on April 28th, 1953. Cathy grew up on a dairy farm with 15 brothers and sisters.
Cathy excelled academically and enjoyed reading, but what she really loved above all else was playing sports. With so many brothers and sisters it was easy to put together a football game in the field after dinner. Cathy was in the first group of women allowed to officially play Irish football in her town. She has always been a trail blazer.
After graduating high school, Cathy joined some of her brothers and sisters who had travelled to America to find work. Cathy landed in the Big Apple and began her next adventure. In 1974, Cathy met the Unification Church and was moved by the vision of the Unification Movement to build one family under God. Cathy’s life was characterized by a deep faith that guided her through the joys and challenges of life. From a young child, God was always part of her world.
On October 14th, 1982, Cathy received the Marriage Blessing to Altair Ferabolli who was born in Brazil. Over the next 40 years, together, they built a beautiful family with three lovely daughters, Arlena, Karmina, and Letisha. Karmina, who had cerebral palsy and needed constant care, lived for just nine precious years. During those demanding years, Cathy said that sometimes people
would ask her, “How can you still believe?” Cathy’s simple response was, “I don’t believe in God, I depend on God. I know I can get through each day because God has my back.” It was this heart that she wanted to pass onto her children and those around her.
Cathy has taken care of so many people. She has the heart of an activist. That is her God language. She was drawn to service projects, to supporting people in need, to investing in the youth of her faith community – being there for them when they needed an Auntie. Cathy was always involved!
Mika Deshotel said of those times, “Cathy Ferabolli opened my eyes to the plight of those less fortunate. She was always rooting for the underdog and had a special place in her heart for young people and providing them with opportunities to grow. She served as a mentor, a community leader, but ultimately as a mother who led by example. She also gave me invaluable
experiences, working with movers and shakers for positive change in the community.”
Cathy was at the heart of many Worcester community events including creating collaborations between her faith community and numerous organizations, including Friendly House, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Worcester Housing Authority, the Regional Environmental Council, and Brigham Hill Community Farm to name just a few. Cathy was an avid supporter of the Women’s Federation for World Peace, Schools of Africa project.
Her heart was one of selfless service and was recognized by so many, both young and old. In 2004, the Family Federation for World Peace honored Cathy with an award for her Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to Service. In 2007, The International League of Muslim Women, New England Chapter, honored Cathy with an award in recognition of her Outstanding Service to G-d, Family and Humanity. Cathy later traveled to Israel with WFWP as part of a peace initiative to bring reconciliation and healing among the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Cathy was a champion for so many people. When she got her teeth into a cause, she wouldn’t let go. She gave 100% of herself in all that she did. Cathy was feisty and she was fun. Instead of retiring at 65 years of age, Cathy wanted to do something to help the refugee crisis and so their family welcomed a refugee youth from South America to live with them. This was her way of loving God and loving the world.
Her joy, her love of games, her sense of fun, and the memories she created with the many, many people she loved lives in our hearts. Cathy is survived by her husband, Altair; her eldest daughter, Arlena and her husband, Takanari Susuki, and their daughter, Kaya, and Cathy and Altair’s second daughter, Letisha Ferabolli. Cathy leaves behind 9 of her 15 siblings and many other family members and friends all over the world.
As we celebrate Cathy Ferabolli’s beautiful life, we are comforted by the words of Rumi, “Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.” Those we love may leave this world and we will miss their physical presence, but they are always with us in our hearts.
Cathy wished to invite anyone who would like to make an offering in remembrance of her to donate to the Women’s Federation for World Peace – Schools of Africa Project at https://www.wfwp.us/schools-of-africa
Her funeral is Saturday, October 15th at 1:00 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester. Her calling hours are Friday, October 14th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in O'CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester. Burial will be private. O'CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME is assisting the family with arrangements.